Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-03-25

CAS- you please; I'm sure I should be
most happily honored by such an arrange
ment. They call me Jack Noses" he
politely replied, with an amused
twinkle in his eye, and apleased expression
overspread his strong, handsome, intelli-
gent face.
"And they call me sMadcap Millie;' but
then 1 was christened Millicent. My father
is Col. MAYHEM, of Rock Mere Hail." re-
sponded Mile, with n very ceremonious
dir, and then continued: "Now, l suppose
We are properly introduced" drawing her
face and form into the apishness of
primness, and which her companion could
not repress q very broad smile indeed.
Casting a sly glance ut him, she caught
the amused smile and compressed her lips
in mock staidness.
at hide-and-seek over her fair, childish
face.
The impulse was too strong, and again
she broke into rippline, musical laughter,
and turning on him. with pretended stern
ness. she demanded:
Nov what are you laughing at? Don't
you see you have spoiled my air of pro-
priety?"
Suddenly, as if a new idea had struck
her, she exclaimed:
why, MI. Moses, you must know Mr..
Fletcher, and can tell me something about
him." with a pretty, modest eagerness.
Unfortunately I cannot give you the in
formation desired, Miss Mayhem, having
never met the gentleman"
And you his steward" with astonish-
ment i'll her expression.
II was engaged through his trusty agent"
he quietly replied.
Now" thought Mile, 81 must be a little
more decorous or l will disgust him with
my hoydenish manners"
For three hours they chatted almost like
old friends; and the morning that Millie
had expected would drag SO heavily had
passed very pleasantly indeed, and before
she could believe it they were at their
destination.
BY this time Mile mad settled it in her
mind that Jack Moses was quite a nice
young man: much nicer in fact than the
owner of the Laurels possibly could be.
He assisted her in getting off of the
his leisure with the handbags md bundles.
rushed across the platform at her brother
Aaron, whom she discovered there await
ing her arrival.
"Well, Mad, l see you have as much life
as ever. But don't bite off my nose!" pro-
tested Aaron, playfully holding her off
with one hand. while with the other he
vigorously rubbed the spot she had kissed.
a'Said Aaron to Moses, letss bite off our
noses,'a quoth Mile, the while pulling
her brother in the direction of Jack Moses.
Come. let me introduce you to our new
neighbor-A1r. Jack Moses. the new stew
ard at Laurel Grove. Mr.. Moses, my
brother"
Aaron looked surprised, but held out his
hand to the gentle, manipulating steward.
They both smiled pleasantly, and, appar-
emily favorably impressed with each other,
were very soon making some general re-
marks and explanations incident to the oc-
casion, which ended in a tacit understand
ing of friendly relations, Notwithstanding
Mr.. Moses was only a steward.
The following day Mile took Rover and
ran down to her favorite resort in the grove
joining Laurel Grove place, to have a romp
free and undisturbed.
But ere she had run and jumped across
the little, musical, babbling brook a half
dozen times, sometimes beating Rover and
sometimes being beaten by her great shaggy
companion; two or three times she had
fallen on the soft grass-knocked down by
Rover's awkward p%layfulness, when she
was startled by a cherry, rich voice laugh
ingly call out:
Miss Mayhem, your escort is not very
chivalrous, or he would not be SO rude as
to knock you down."
Instantly Mile recognized the voice as
that Of the steward of Laurel Grove. At
first she was a little confused, but soon re-
covered her wanted composure and talked
of the surrounding beauties quite inter-
estedly.
In some way, apparently by accident,
they met nearly every pleasant day. Mr..
Moses was invited to Rock-Mere Hall by
the Colonel and his son; and they
times walked over the Laurel Grove place,
accompanied by Jack; often spending
hours in his company, talking of the pro-
posed changes that were to be made on the
grand old place.
One and all pronounced the steward a
gentleman Of intelligence and culture;
quite worthy of their friendship.
Thus a month had passed, when one day
Mile inquired of Jack if Mr.. Fletcher was
coming home at all that summer?
Jack replied tina he thought not, as he
had communicated to him that he had
some very important business at his stop
ping-ploce that would require some months
TO arrange.
A few days thereafter Mile was out for
a walk when she ran upon the two young
ladies of the train episode, strolling through
the grounds of Laurel Grove.
They at once recognized Mile, and their
first impulse was to beat q hasty retreat;
but after exchanging a few words in an
undertone they boldly walked up to her,
smilingly addressing her, and entered into
a sprightly conversation on the beauties
and grandeur of the scenery.
They laughed lightly over their mistake
on the occasion of their first meeting,
begging Mil)ie, as q special favor. not to
mention the ridiculous occurrence to Mr..
Fletcher when he should return to the
Laurels.
With a mischievous twinkle in her eyes,
Millie responded:
ooh, rest easy about that; I'll not trouble
myself to NEEDLE with your aspirations.
Besides, if I wished ever SO much to do SO,
l should get awfully tired of waiting in
this case"
"Why so?" inquired Rit, a~nxionsly.
"Dont you know that he is not to honor
us with his presence ct the Laurels this
SUMMER" with provoking significance in her
tone, and q pleased smile.
Rit and Kate looked at each other for q
moment in perplexity. Then Rit asked,
with eagerness in her manner:
"Is that really the truth, Miss Mayhem?
How do you know this?"
II got my information from his steward,
the gentleman who was with me on the